Point of daytime running lights?

[rogerroger]

Just a little warning, I’m going to rant for a couple minutes.

What is the purpose of daytime running lights for any vehicle? Why not just have the regular headlights and tail lights stay on 100% of the time? This would prevent people from forgetting to turn their lights on when it’s almost dark or when it’s raining.

Or just do away with them completely. What if you want zero lights on for some odd reason? How do you do that and keep the car on? Too many times, I get behind a vehicle early in the morning or at night, and it doesn’t have its tail lights on. I pass the car and realize that they only have their DRL's on. They don't realize it because the DRL's give off enough light to trick the driver.

I understand some say that they are a safety feature, but I think they are 100% useless.

I welcome any and all comments, both in agreement and disagreement.

 

[Mark_888]

You can read this info for the pros and cons of daytime running lights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp

However, I don't know if daytime running lights fool drivers into thinking that their lights are on at night, but I don't know for sure since I have never had them. I personally think that automatic lights should be required that will turn lights on when it is sufficiently dark outside.

 

[EXBMWGUY]

I drive with my headlights on all the time for the reasons you mention. DRLs are all about front-only safety (being seen by others) and reduced fuel consumption. They use less fuel than regular headlights probably by the same amount you save my rolling your driver's side window up that last 1 inch!

But the EPA knows everything, right?

 

[Mark_888]

I drive with my headlights on all the time for the reasons you mention.

I sometimes do that also, but the downside is that it's a little harder for someone to see the brake lights when the taillights are already illuminated.

 

[Jimmmmbo!]

I didn't read Mark's URL link, but someone "believes" they are safer in general. I think there are specific situations where headlights in a car being on for approaching traffic during the day may have some benefit.

As for all lights or nothing, if I have to have them, at least it's only two lights being turned off-an-on causing them to prematurly wear out. (Ignoring the case for most LEDs, of course.)

I believe there are areas in Canada, if not the whole country that require all passenger vehicles to have them. Driven by a lot of politics for sure, but they may have valid empirical evidence.

 

[Billfz1]

Just a little warning, I’m going to rant for a couple minutes.

What is the purpose of daytime running lights for any vehicle? Why not just have the regular headlights and tail lights stay on 100% of the time? This would prevent people from forgetting to turn their lights on when it’s almost dark or when it’s raining.

Or just do away with them completely. What if you want zero lights on for some odd reason? How do you do that and keep the car on? Too many times, I get behind a vehicle early in the morning or at night, and it doesn’t have its tail lights on. I pass the car and realize that they only have their DRL's on. They don't realize it because the DRL's give off enough light to trick the driver.

I understand some say that they are a safety feature, but I think they are 100% useless.

I welcome any and all comments, both in agreement and disagreement.

Roger I will answer with a rant of my own. The DRLs and the 3rd brake lights are the pipe dream of NHTSA people protecting their phoney baloney jobs gentelmen. I ride a motorcycle also as you can tell from my avatar. There have been studies that drivers don't notice motorcycles because they have a different PROFILE than cars. This is despite the fact that bikes have had their headlights wired on since the late seventies! The 3rd brake light conclusion came from a study in New York CABS when they put a light as a stalk in the middle of the trunk. Once even those lights became commonplace they drivers went back to their original stupor. IMO the only way we will improve the statistics much from current is to make drivers licenses harder to get. England has MUCH tougher drivers tests, and you can lose your license easier so fewer zombies make it behind the wheel.
Bill

 

[Mark_888]

I didn't read Mark's URL link, but someone "believes" they are safer in general. I think there are specific situations where headlights in a car being on for approaching traffic during the day may have some benefit.

As for all lights or nothing, if I have to have them, at least it's only two lights being turned off-an-on causing them to prematurly wear out. (Ignoring the case for most LEDs, of course.)

I believe there are areas in Canada, if not the whole country that require all passenger vehicles to have them. Driven by a lot of politics for sure, but they may have valid empirical evidence.

The link I provided above mentions various studies, some which say it helps reduce accidents, and some studies which say there is not a significant statistical difference. DRL are not required in the USA.

Countries were it seems to help the most (based on statistical evidence) are those in northern latitudes such as Scandinavia and Canada. DRL helps the least to reduce accidents in more southern latitudes.

There is a cost for DRL, since lights apparently use more energy (puts more of a drain on alternator, which creates more drag on engine, or something like that).

 

[RonJ]

We have had DRL's here in Ontario and most of Canada since 1990. There is no two ways about it, in looking down a long road, especially around dawn or dusk, a vehicle with DRL on will show up when a vehicle without DRL simply blends into the background and is invisible. I'm sure that many of you lads, like myself, who aren't kids, realize that headlights/DRL help make another car show up under some circumstances. I'll say the same thing about motorcycles as well. When I was biking before DRL's, I always turned the headlight on for the stated reasons.

If you think that the amount of current required by DRL is going to increase the cost of running your car, you're a paranoid nit-picker. That person probably won't use the cigarette lighter for the same reason .... <G>

A valid point that was raised, people who simply leave their light switch in the auto position, don't realize that the tail lights aren't usually on when the DRL's are. It creates a dangerous situation on a foggy day or in light snow or rain. In poor weather, I like to see the two little green lights on in the dash that tell me the taillights are on!!

My two cents ....... RonJ

 

[PMCErnie]

Ranting is not good for one's health. Opinions are good.

I love the DRL concept and believe it makes my car more visible to inattentive drivers and in dim driving conditions. Anything that gives me a safety edge makes me happy. Further, we have all seen plenty of dark cars driving after nightfall. Driver stupidity. At least such dummies equipped with DRLs you can see coming your way.

The DRLs on the Genesis are a bit too bright. They annoy me when I see a Genesis coming my way on the road. The ones I've seen on the '15 Genesis seem too dim. Go figure!

 

[Mark_888]

If you think that the amount of current required by DRL is going to increase the cost of running your car, you're a paranoid nit-picker. That person probably won't use the cigarette lighter for the same reason .... <G>

I don't think any one individual is worried about the cost of using DRL. However, government regulators take the cumulative effect of that into account, versus the benefit received, when deciding whether to mandate DRL.

From reading the Wikipedia article I posted above, it appears that in the US there is little or no statistical justification to show that DRL reduces accidents, and there is a cost to society in terms of more energy use, which is why they are not currently mandated in the US. I am not saying whether I agree or disagree, but that is apparently the current position of US federal regulators on the subject. I also noted that in countries located in more northern latitudes, there does seem to be much more clear statistical benefit (reduction of accidents) when DRL is mandated (according to Wikipedia article).

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[mikec]

Eons ago what I remember reading:
DRLs were a basically a band-aid for folks that didn't turn on headlights in poor visibility daytime conditions - e.g. fog, misting rain, etc. There's enough light out to see... but atmospheric conditions mean you can't see very far and more importantly other drivers can't see you. So some extra light makes it easier for your vehicle to be seen by others if you haven't turned on the headlights+taillights.

Northern climates that experience such crummy visibility conditions more frequently were the areas that generally pushed for mandatory DRLs.

Changes to vehicle interior design plus DRLs might be leading to more folks driving without headlights. Folks that have been driving for more than 20 years or so learned on cars with mechanical dash displays lit by regular light bulbs that lit only when the headlights were ON; they got used to the dash illumination being an indicator for "headlights are on." Back-lit electroluminescent displays, and modern LCD panels, light up whenever the car is ON, not just when the headlights are ON. Combine that with DRLs sort-of lighting up the road at night makes it seem as though the headlights are in fact ON when they're not.

mike c.

 

[RonJ]

@ mikec, I'm guessing that's why my last couple of cars have had tail light indicators in the dash?

RonJ

 

[AgentSmith007]

I think I read some time ago that in Europe (and I think UK was mentioned) government requires rear DRLs in RED color.

 

[Rey]

I'm a geezer who rode motorcycles years before "always-on" lights were standard equipment. Back in the 50s I chose to turn on my headlight, and noticed that I seemed to be better "seen" by cage drivers, so I kept them on. Figured if headlight on for railroad locomotives was effective, so would my motorcycle headlight.
A now very old friend was an airline pilot who used to turn on landing lights whenever below 10,000 ft to be "seen". Now, I think it is required.
I think it is basically dangerous to drive in rain without headlights, particularly on a two lane rural highway with a gray car. You become almost invisible at 1/2 mile distance to a car pulling out to pass.
In city driving headlights are just as important as they can often help reduce one's blind spot from seeing adjoining cars.
Basically, headlights have a function other than illuminating the road for the driver - to be seen.
I fully appreciate the irritation arising from being "told what to do" by the government in the daylight running light issue. But this alone is not a very good reason to reject the concept. It just makes good sense, and costs virtually nothing. Yes, I know that in some countries drivers rarely use headlights (rural Mexico) to "save" gas, but would you drive under those conditions?

 

[EXBMWGUY]

^ Always a voice of reason.

 

[Mark_888]

I think it is basically dangerous to drive in rain without headlights

In many states, it is required by law to have headlights on when the wipers are on (raining) or when visibility is low due to other factors.

Basically, headlights have a function other than illuminating the road for the driver - to be seen.

Absolutely. It is rare for me to need headlights to see the road, since almost all the roads I travel are illuminated at night.

I would prefer to have DRL available because having headlights on means taillights are also on, which reduces visibility or brake lights during the day. I also think that auto-on headlights (when it gets dark) should be mandatory and is more important than DRL.

 

[Alwaysforward]

Absolutely. It is rare for me to need headlights to see the road, since almost all the roads I travel are illuminated at night.QUOTE]

In Florida, when driving across the state on a 2 way road it is very helpful to have lights on as you have straight ways that are miles long and it helps to know if there is a car coming when you want to pass a tractor, semi or other slow going motorist.

 

[RonJ]

^ ^ I'll drink to that!!!

RonJ

 

[Mark_888]

In Florida, when driving across the state on a 2 way road it is very helpful to have lights on as you have straight ways that are miles long and it helps to know if there is a car coming when you want to pass a tractor, semi or other slow going motorist.

Yes, that is what I said. Headlights are usually more useful for someone seeing you, then you seeing the road.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

From my experience, it dosen't seem to matter if your lights are on or not. I've got 2 bright head lights on my bike that are on all the time and people still pull out in front of me.

Same as the car, DRL or head lights and I still get people acting as if I'm not there.

Bikes nowdays even have their tail light on all the time. When I did a custom bike, I wired in my tail light to a switch so I could turn it off during the day. People didn't even notice the difference, including the cops.

What I do find interesting though is that my '04 Chevy truck, you have to physically turn the head lights in another position other than auto every time you get in the truck. It is a spring loaded switch that goes to auto when released.

But in the Genney, you have to physically put the head lights in auto.